Anticreeper.



H. H. SPONENBURG.

ANTIGREEPER.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.20.1010

Patented 0cn.3,1911. I

Z SEEE USHEEfl 0 M F O, W l! Z la 1 H. H. SPONENBURG.

ANTIGREEPBR.

APPLICATION FILED ooT.2o, me

` Patented Oct. 3, 1911,

2 BHEETSSHEET 2 kToall whom, it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

Hman H. SPNNBURG, or comme, ILLINOIS, Assroivon To erro it BARNETT, oF

r omesso. ILLINOIS,

. ANTICREEPER.

1,'oolil6oo.

.Be litltnovvn that I, HIRAM H. SPoNnN- BURG, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Gurnee, in the county of Lake and State of Iliinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anticreepers, of which thefollowing is av specification.

.My invention relates to devices for preventing the longitudinal creep" of railway rails, such devices being sometimes called antilcreepcrs, rail` stays, or rail anchors; and

the invention has for its primary object to provide an anti-Creeper of novel and improved construction in which one or more of the rail gripping jaws is provided with a hard metal insert adapted to bite into the rail."

"A'further object of the invention is to proi'ride an arrangement in Whichthe hard metal insert is separately movable with `respect to the jaw, or other' rail gripping clement-With which it is associated, and is independently forced into contact with the rail; whereby the bite of the hard metal piece may be utilized to its fullest extent Withoutlessening the frictional grip of the other part or parts of the jaw.

A furtherobject of the invention is; to pro- Vide certain new and improved forms, consti-actions` and arrangements in devices of this character Which will be hereinafter' described and claimed.

The Iinvention vis illustrated in the preferred embodimentr rin the accompanying drawings, wherein l Figure l is a side view of the device in elcvation, the rail to which it is applied being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view ot' the parts shown in Fig. 1, but in an initial and not the'ir operative position; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary,sectional plan taken on line 3-3'of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a View in perspective of the hard metal insert; Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the malleable iron jaw, and Fig. ,6 is an end elevation of the device, the tie being shown in section viewed from the left'hand side of Figs. 1 and `2.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts-'in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a railroad rail ol ordinary form. the base of Which is designated B.

C is oneof the ties on which the rail is supported.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled October 20, 1910. Gerini No. 588,153,

Athe rail base Patented oct. 3, 1911.l

It will be readily understood by those familiar with the various types of anti-'creepcrs which have heretofore been devised, that the improvements constituting my invention might be utilized in connection with a number of different structures. For the pur pose of illustration, and because the devices and arrangements'in question are considered of particular `value as improvements in this connection, Ihave chosen a structure in its general characteristics like the anti-Creeper disclosed in the, patent to Leighty No. 809,193, patented January 2, l1906. The devicel of this Shaped jaw by .means of a strap or bar having a hook at each end. In operation the wedge shaped jaw hears against a tie so that the creep of the rail causes a tightening action between the jaw-and the strap or bar which increases the lateral grip of the device on the rail base.

In thc device shown herein a tapered or wedge shaped jaw Dis provided, adapted to surround one edge oi" the rail base B, and this jaw is secured to the rail base by means ot a bar or strap I!) having at one end the hook or jaw F engaging with the rail base, and at thc other, the hook or jaw G which surrounds the tapcredjaw D. The jaw D is provided with a depending flange H constituting a tie abutment. vWhile the device is shown as constructed so as to simply bear against a tie, it is obvious that it might be permanently anchored or secured to the tie, or that instead of being abntted against or secured. to a tie, it might bc in like manner engaged Withany other stationary, or relatively stationary, portion of-thc road bed.

Jaw l) is formed at its rounded edge with a horizontal perforation or slot I adilpted to receive `thc preferablytapcred hard metal insertpieceJ formed on its edge engaging the rail hase with thc teeth j. Preferably the insert piece and the slot or perforation in the jawgn'e so conformed that the former may be secured in the latter before the anticrcepcr is assembled on thc.rail. This is to prevent the relatively small insert piece from being lost. For example. the perforation in the jaw is preferably so formed that two lugs or projections1 r', i" at the inner side of the ljaw. hold the .insert piece .I in position at this side. The back edge of the jaw is patent consists of a Wedge which is secured or clamped to .formed with lug K which, .when the' jaw is cast, projects` out from the back of the vjaw but can be hammered over into the opening, that is, to `thefull line positionf Fig. 3, after the insert piece has been put in place. The other end of the perforation I is pref- -erably undercut as indicated at 2.

i edge projectsa trifle beyond the curved'back surface of jaw D. By this arrangement,

when the strap E is driven onto the iaw D (both whenA the deviceisfrst appliedl'to the rail-and. afterward when the grip of the dei vice`is tightened by the tendency of the rail I to creep) its jaw or hookG is foreedyup' the .tapered jaw D, driving said jaw D into a closer frictional contact with the' rail base,

and at the same time said hook or` jaw G isV brought. to bear upon the hard metalainsert piece J which, as stated, is tapered a trifle and projects a trifie beyond the outer edgel of the jaw, and forces'said insert piece trans verselyagainst the edge of the rail base cansing its teeth y' to bite into and be embedded in the softer metal of the rail. llt will be understood that the jaw D, will be made of maileableiron or other relatively soft and tough metal (and the strap E may be made of the saine inletal) While the insert piece l .will be composed of hard steelor iron. ylhis loose ariangementof the hard metal eleu'ient in the jaw B, in the first place, makes it possible to produce an effective bite of the bard Ametal element which is not altogether dependent on an exaett. of the jaw on the rail base. If, for example, the jaw ismade a little too wide or too narrow, or in other respects does vnot exactly conform to the shape of the rail base, the capacity of the insert element for movement makes an effective grip a possibility. In theseeond place, with this arrangement it is possible to obtain an engagement upon the rail base o-f both the hard metal element and the malleable iron jaw in which it is mounted... their a hard metal insert. is yfixied in the Jaw it is obvious that the adjacent parts of the jaw are ltept out of effective .contact with the rail. `With the vinsert piece independently movable, and supposing it to be designed, as

shown, 'so that it projects from the back ofI the jaw D an amount equal to the capacit-y it has for eml'iedding itself in'the edge of the rail base. the driving of the strap onto jaw D will first force jaw D against the edge of the rail base and then force the insert to bite into the rail. The above .will be apparent from comparison of Figs. 2 and 3. The drawings show an adjustment of the parts which brings the inner surfaces of the jaw D and of hook F into Acontact with the edge faces'of the rail base. It would be possible, by tapering the openings in jaw D and hook F, to obtain a `greater wedging action between the jaw and hook and the rail base, in

`whiclrcase some little space Would'intervene between the edge faces of the rail basel and the opposite inner surfaces of the' jaw and'hook. -In this arrangement the movable I mounting of the insert piece J would have utility since, instead of being held out of contact with the edge of the rail, it could be made to move inwardly sufficiently to make an engagement.

Theoretically it might be possible to malte vSo exact a fit-between jaw D and the rail base that there -would be wedging contact between the top of the jaw and the top of the rail base, 'and straight clamping contact between the innersurface ofthe jaw and the edge face of the rail: that is, to have the edge of the rail meet the'inner surface of the jaw when a maximum Wedging action' has been reached; In practice, however, it is' ,not possible to make devices of this sort so that they will have any such accurate lit. If the grip is between the jaw andfthelat .sur-

faces of the rail 'base there will be some clearance atthe edge. If the edge is engagedA there will' be little or no frietional engagement between the dat surfaces.` lVith the jaw provided with a movable insert piece, as shown,t he'bite of the insert is in either case` made effective. and also the fric-` tional grip of the jaw onv the rail.

It will be observed that the jaw or hook Gr has considerable width rand that the u -s 'y per surface of the bar E is flat. Preferab y the jawl) is tapered longitudinally as well' as transversely. that is, is thinner on vertical lines at the end remote from the tie than at the other end. These constructions serve' to develop' considerable friction between the hook G 'and jaw D and between the ,strap and the lower surface of therail base, thus tending tokeep the parts in, theiroperajtive position. Preferably the parts of the de vice will be driven in place b v a Sledge hammer. The iaw D will be` first driven tight on the rail base and afterward `the strap member E driven as vfar as may be upthe l wedge constituted by the jaw. The end4 of the strap lprovided with tlie hook F stands away from the tie so that if'the rail has any I the anti-Creeper lhere siowjn, .it i's perhaps,

not essential in view ofthel fact that the design and arrangement of the parts issuch faste give by itselfla very close and effective grip of the deviceon the rail. As another preferred, though, not essentiallfeature of the device. as l/apprehend it,fa'portion of jawD is slit se as to forni a istrip Lwhich .130

devices which are therefore `do not limit myself to the par-- Y I d o not clai' can be bent up back of the jaw G when the parts have been driven into their operativo position. I n 1 From the foregoing it will be readily understood `that While the improvement invention is perhaps particularly valuable as `animproveinent upon the' sort of anti- Creeper shoWnL-itmight, nevertheless, be employed inconnection with anti-creeping structurally different. I

ticulars of construction, designiand arrangement shown except so -liar as the same are iiiade limitations onv certain of the claims herein; i t

in this application broadly the provision` of one of the members of a device of this sortI with apart adapted to be bent,` after the part-s arin operative position, to prevent loosening of the grip Aoit' the device on the rail, this idea 4being disclosed and broadly claimed in my copendA ing application tiled'October 20, 1910 Serial No. `588,150;'the arrangement for obtaining this result in the present ,applica tion (the provision of jaw D with the slit partL) being a 'particular embodimentI of Q the idea disclosed' in theapplication above mentioned and heilig herein claimed as suoli.

Iclaim'- g 11.11 device 'of the character described, comprising in: combination a rail gripping element formed with a perforation, a hard metal piece adapted to be movably secured in said perforation, andmeans for binding said element to said rail so as to canse said hard metal piece to bite the rail; said device being provided with means adapted to enl gage a stationary portion ot' the road bed. Q. A device oftliey character described comprising in combina-tion a rail griiipii'ig element .formed with a horizontal perforation,'a hard Ametal piece adapted to be se- 4cured vin said perforation, and means for binding saidelement onthe rail so as to canse said hard metal piece to-bite the edge of the rail; said device being provided with means adapted to engage :i lstationar)r portion ot' tho road bed.

'3. A device of. the character described, comi-irisinp,` in combination a rail gripping clcmciittoriiied with a perforation, a llard metal piece adapted to be received ino said perforation, means for movably securing said hard inetal piece in said perforation,

vand means 'toi"binding said clement on the rail so as to canse Isaid liai'd inetal 'piece to bite into the rail said device beingprovided with nicaiis adapted to engage a stationary portion ot' the road bed.

1l. .f\`\dcvice ot the character described coriiprisingrin combination a .iaiv adapted to siirroiindinic edge ot' the rail base and formed with a perforation. a hard metal.

' piece adapted to be morality held iii lsaid of my for causingsaid elements tobe Vtermed and perforation, means for clamping said yjaw 4forcing said hard metal piece againstthe edge 0i the rail base. i p y 6. A device of the character .described comprising in combination a rail gripping element, a hard'metal rail biting'element movably associated.therewith, and means forced into engagement with the saine side of the rail; said device being provided with lmeans adapted to engage a stationary portion of the road'bed.y l 7.A device of the character described comprisin incombinationa rail gripping element a a ted to frictionally engage with a portion oli-)the rail base, a rail biting element ada )ted to bite the edge of the rail and movilbly associated withsaid gripping element,"and means for causing both of said elements to be forced into engagement lwith i the saine side 'of the rail; said device being provided with means adaptedto 'engage a stationary portion of 'the road bed.

8. A device of the character described, comprising in combination' a rail gripping element, means for causing the same to be forced into tric'tional engagement with the rail, said element and means being conarranged so thatA the creep of the rail. tightens the grip of said element `on the rail, and aA rail biting element movably associatedivith said gripping .element ivhich is adapted to be independently forc'cd into the saine side of the rail. A,

D. LA device of the character described,

comprising in combination Va rail gripping' clement adapted to'siirroiin'd'and engage an edge of the rail base, a .rail biting element iiuivabllv associated therewith and adapted to biteinto the edge ot' thc rail base, :ind means for causing said elements to be forced into engagement with the saine side of the rail; said device beiigqirovided with means adapted to engagewith a stationary portioniot' the road bed.-

l0. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a wedge-shaped rail gripping element, a hard metal rail biting element iiiovably associated therewith. and iin-.ins ior causing said elements to bc t'orced into engagement with the rail;

said deviceI beingI adapted to bear against.

a tic.

ll. device ot' the character described, comprising in combination a wedge-shaped rail gripping elemciit, a hard metal rail bitslot therein',` aha-rd metal piece which is movable i'n said slot, and means for forcing said jaw into engagement With the rail' which independently forces said hard metal piece'against the rail; said device being provided with `means 'adapted to engage with' a y stationary portion of the road bed. i

13. lt-."deviee of the character described, comprising in combination a tapered jaw formed with a s lot and with atie abutment, va hard 'metal piece movably secured in said slot, )and means for forcing said jaw into lengagenlent with the rail which independently .forces saidphard metal piece against tho rail, l l

14:-, il device of the'cliaracter described, comprising in combination a tapered 'jaw formed with a slot and with a tie abutment,

a hard metal piece movablj.' mounted in said slot,Y and a strap provided at one end with a hook-which surrounds said jaw and bears against said hard lmetal piece, and at the other end with a hook which snrroaiidsthe opposite edge ot the rail base.

l5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a tapered jaw formed with a tie abutment and with a slot,

a tapered hard metal piece movable in said slot and projecting therei'roni. and means` which binds said 'jaw to the rail and' forces said hard metal piece against the rail.

Itt. ft device of the character described -coinprising in combination .a jaw adaptedto eiiga'ge'with a portion of the i'ail base, a'A .hard metal 'biting element movably mount-l `ed in said jaw and adapted to engage with the rail hase at the same side as the jaw. and meansl adapted to force said bitine' element into saidjaw said device being adapted to engage a, stationary portion of the road bed."

lT. device oi" the character described comprising in combination a wedge-shaped hard metal bitingl element adapted -to bear against the rail base, means adaptedto engage with and force said hard metal elemen; into the rail, and means adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

1,8. A device of the vcharacter described comprising in combination a hard metal biting element and means 'constituting a strap, surrounding the rail base, adapted to engage With said hard metal element and force it independently'into the rail; said element and said means formed so as to have a wedging engagement; andpineans adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

19. A device of the character described comprising in combination a wedge-shapedi vhard niet-al biting element adapted to bite into the edge of the rail base, a strap pro.

vided at one endvvith a hook Which movably ,engages said element and forces into the rail basaand at the other with means engagingthe opposite edge of the rail base; and means adapted to engage with a stationary portion of the road bed.

20. In a rail stay, rail clamping means comprising a jaw, a wedge adapted to be driven into the jaw so as to engage with the rail base, and a hard metal element which is movably sustained in said wedge, and is adapted to be forced into contact with the rail base; said stay being provided with means for giving it a relatively fixed position with respectto the road bed.

21. In a rail stay, rail clamping means comprising a Jaw, a wedge adapted to be driven intol the `jaw and to come into contact with said rail base, and a hard metal wedgeshaped element movable with respect,- vto said first mentioned wedge and adaptedto be -orced into eont'actwith said rail said stay being provided with means forgiving it a relatively fixed position with respect, to the road bed.A

Q2. in a. rail stay, rail clamping means comprising a jaw, a wedge adapted to be driven into said jaw, and formed with a slot, and a hard metal element secured in said slot; said stay being provided Withf means for giving it a relatively fixed position with respect to the road bed. m

` i; lill-ABI l-I. SPONENBURG Vfitnesses:

I). Hf-Tiinimx, Il. L. Picon'. 

